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An increasing number of
little children are eating the small lithium batteries, also known as "button"
batteries, that power many of our consumer devices, and new
research finds there are potentially serious, or even deadly, consequences.
Despite public information
campaigns warning parents about the dangers, an estimated 7,032 visits were
made to emergency rooms as a result of battery-related injuries from 2010
to 2019, more than twice the number of visits as 1990 to 2009, according to
the study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
That's an average of one
battery-related emergency visit every 1¼ hours among children under 18, the
report found. Children under 5 were at highest risk, the report noted,
especially toddlers between the ages of 1 and 2, who often put things they
find into their mouths.
Button batteries were
responsible for the injuries in more than 87% of the visits in which
battery type could be determined, the study said.
If you suspect your child has
swallowed a battery – or put one in their nose or ear – the National Poison
Control Center advises to “Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at
800-498-8666 immediately. Prompt action is critical. Don't wait for
symptoms to develop.”
Signs of ingestion can look
like the child swallowed a coin, so be wary, experts said. Typical behavior
can include wheezing, drooling, coughing, vomiting, chest discomfort,
refusal to eat, or gagging when attempting to drink or eat. But for some
children, it can take days before symptoms are severe enough to notice.
Don't give your child
anything to eat or drink until an X-ray shows the battery has moved beyond
the esophagus, the NPCC also noted.
Batteries stuck in the
esophagus must be removed as quickly as possible, as severe damage can
occur in just two hours. Batteries in the nose or ear also must be removed
immediately to avoid permanent damage," the center advised.
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